Burglaries spark plea over blackout

Jean Whitton and Ronnie Wicks want the switch-off in their road to end

A widow whose street was hit by two burglaries in four days is pleading with the council to put the streetlights back on.

Ronnie Wicks, 65, lives in Mitford Close, one of the streets involved in Wokingham Borough Council’s streetlight switch-off pilot, which it hopes will save cash and reduce the borough’s carbon footprint.

Since the lights were turned off six weeks ago there have been two overnight burglaries in the street – both through the front doors of the homes.

One of the burglaries took place on Christmas morning and the thieves took a handbag, keys and a Nintendo Wii intended for the homeowner’s grandchildren as a Christmas present. There was a second burglary on December 29, which was disturbed by the residents.

Mrs Wicks and her neighbours say the lights need to be switched back on before any other homes are targeted.

Mrs Wicks, who is retired, said: “I lost my husband in August and it took me weeks and weeks before I could turn the light out at night.

“I’d just got used to having the light out and now all the streetlights are out. It’s absolutely pitch black and it’s really frightening.

“Round here we are all vulnerable women.”

The lights in Mitford Close are among 1,000 that are switched off between midnight and 5.30am as part of the pilot, which began last year.

“It’s so dark no one would see a burglar,” said Mrs Wicks.

“I said someone from the council should come round and see how dark it is but they said they come round in the evening, not when the lights are actually out.”

Councillor Keith Baker, highways and transport boss, said: “The driving force behind any deci-sion is the acceptance of the police and they are in a very powerful position.

“If someone complains about a burglary the police look at whether the street lights are a con-tributory factor. If there is a spate of burglaries happening on other streets that are lit as well they say it’s nothing to do with the lights.

“Fundamentally we will take guidance and direction from the police.”

He said the decision over whether to turn the lights back on in Mitford Close will be made within weeks.

“We take it extremely seriously,” he said.

The streetlight switch-off almost hit a hiccup after its introduction in May when it was discov-ered the 1,000 lights involved in the trial would have to be individually switched off.

The council is waiting to hear whether it has successfully bid for a £28 million grant to replace all the lights with more environmentally friendly, cheaper streetlights.

Cllr Baker said: “It would enable us to replace all the streetlights within two or three years with newer technology and the vast majority will be controllable remotely.

“We should know by the end of the month.”

Is your street involved in the pilot switch off? What do you think about the scheme? Leave your comments below.